The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-06-18

needn't be afraid to trust me. My old woman is a mighty good calculator, and she won't have me disgraced by bein' sued for debt"
 "Well, we'll" said the landlord, in a milder tone, remembering the net in which he hoped to land his victim was not quite complete, "do, have another drink if you must, but don't you go to hollerin' like mad and disturb folks as has gone to bed. I don't want my dumacile disgraced by havin' lot of women comin' here an gittin' down on the floor am prayin' an singin', an shoutin' as if I was regular born cannibal. 1 ain't use to bein' prayed at, and it makes me feel oncomforta- ble"
 "Oh, Pll be still, you bet your life ont, so still won't disturb the dead folks out there in the graveyard ]" and he smacked his lips as he watched the
 landlord fill glass with the fiery liquid which he grasped with both hands, as it was pushed toward him, and turned down at one gulp.
 "Somehow," said he, turning toward the open door, "there's no end to q mars thirst when he drinks your grog, friend Joe. The more feller drinks, the more he wants" And he shuffled off, while Joe Grasper glided from the bar, across the room, and hastily shut and bolted the door as if in fear of his return.
 John Lyon staggered and stumbled along ill the darkness, but not sound escaped his lips until he saw in the little distance the glimmering of q light in the window: Then, as if seized with sudden inspiration, he opened his mouth and roared.
 Suddenly window raised and a night capped head thrust out, while a voice, hoarse from recent slumber, ex- claimed:
 "Say, Ann, did you hear that? I'll bet Old Bob has broken loose, and is putting for home."
 A peal of laughter from within, and feminine voice comes out clear and sharp:
 "Why, Andrew, what an ear for music; don't you know the bray of a jackass from the sweet tones of one of the poor fellows who has been seeking comfort at the Poor Mans Rest?' 1 hope you men who are on both sides of the fence will see enough pretty soon to bring you over where you ought to be.
 ''This claiming to be temperance and hanging on both sides 1 don't think much of. If 1 were a man"
 Bang! went the window, and a sputtering and puffing in the road was distinctly heard. When John, blow ing the water from his mouth and nose, crawled upon his hands and knees out of the mud-hole, into which he had stumbled when, with eyes fixed upon the distant light, he had attempted to sing "There's Light in the Window" 'I wish," said he, ,, "that my Mary Jane would put a light ill the window for me, one that would stand still, and not be goin' all over the road like that one." Fortunately for John he soon found the well-beaten path by the side of the stone wall, which he managed to follow until it brought him to the rickety old gate leading to his own , door. Here he paused, resting his el- , bows on the fence as he gazed long and s earnestly towards the house. Standing grim and bare against the leaden sky , while the wind which had risen sighed , and moaned through the branches oi an old cherry tree near the well. Suddenly he shivered as he caught the mournful sound, and began fum- bling in nervous way with the gate , which, hanging by one hinge, dragged heavily on the ground. Tagging and pulling away at the gate, glancina r now and then behind him, he began talking aloud, "Why don't Mary git 6 light? I can't see any door; it kinder e seems to me its behind the house." e Squeezing through the partially
 open gate, he staggered along the cor n ner of the house, feeling with his s hands for a door, stumbling against , the stone step he lost his balance anG n fell sprawling against the wood-shet ]. door, which burst open, leaving Johr t with his head resting upon the fiool t inside and his feet hanging out. Herr , he lay for some time with the dool s creaking and pumping against hi e head. As John listened to the ghOstly I sound and felt the thump, thump of tn, d door, fear crept over him, and, stag t gering to his feet, he began feeling
 around for the door leading into tn, d kitchen.
 = With outstretched arms he gropeG l. around, muttering and cursing tn, :. door because it "kept lodging every e time he came near it."
 : Tired at last with his unsuccessful # efforts, he sat down and attempted tt a pull off his boots. Plugging and pull. e ing, stamping and swearing, he finally